John Cameron

Find Your Fit

2020/03/11

The future of BC is bright!

This was the message many students from Pender and Saturna walked away with, following an engaging exploration of career opportunities at Pender Islands School.

Students in Grades 2-12 explored a variety of interactive stations designed to teach youth about up and coming career opportunities in British Columbia. Brought to us by WorkBC, a vibrant young team of university-aged students, shared their passion and knowledge with over 100 students from the two schools.

Students learned about becoming a General Practitioner, Early Childhood Educator, Automotive Technician and Pilot among many others. Whether they tinkered with electronics, soared the skies with a flight simulator, practiced checking air pressure or engaged in interactive software applications, students were excited to explore the stations with their class and then return after school for more.

Find Your Fit generated great enthusiasm and discussion for our young minds as they look forward to a bright future and a promising career. After all, who doesn’t dream and wonder: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Story and Photos: Margot Landahl

Enhancement Agreement Ceremony 2020

Tagged With: aboriginal, indigenous
2020/02/26

My Clothes, My World

Tagged With: environment
2020/02/04

In January Fashion Takes Action / Vancouver presented My Clothes My World programming to 300+ students through the generous support of community partners, I-SEA, and the Salt Spring Foundation.

The Secret Life of Clothes workshop focuses on the humanitarian issues linked to the clothes that we wear, and the Foot Print of Fashion reveals the environmental impacts. The aim is to empower young people with the information to develop critical thinking skills to become change agents and future leaders.

https://sd64bc.wpcdev.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/clothes-200128-724.jpg

Text supplied by presenter Vivienne Challandes
Photos: John Cameron

Fashion Takes Action (FTA)
Climate change can be a huge, confusing and sometimes overwhelming topic, particularly for young people. When students learn about these global issues through an engaging and relevant topic like fashion, it equips our youth with knowledge and empowers them with the tools to become future leaders.

FTA is a non-profit organization established in 2007 to advance sustainability in the fashion industry through education, awareness and collaboration. We achieve this through various initiatives such as the WEAR Conference and our youth education program (“My Clothes My World”), through meet-ups, speaking engagements and global awareness campaigns. Collaboratively, we are helping move the needle on sustainability.

To date FTA has worked with 14,000+ students ages 8 – 17 yrs in schools to deliver My Clothes My World through established, curriculum-aligned programming that includes hand-on activities, videos, group work, and critical thinking with discussion throughout.

COVID 19

2020/02/04

A new government website:

COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information

has been launched with up-to-date non-clinical information on COVID-19.

British Columbians can also use the new provincial phone service by calling 1- 888-COVID19, available seven days a week from 7:30 AM to 8 PM, with information in over 110 languages.

Specific COVID-19 public health questions should be directed to your local health authority. – March 25, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions During COVID-19 – March 24, 2020

District Letter to Students, Staff, and Families – March 18, 2020

Learn More:

For more information and latest updates on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit the website.

Government of Canada Travel Advice – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Anyone who is concerned they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus should contact their primary care provider, local public health office or call 811.

Archived Information:

Education Minister Letter to Students, Staff, and Families – March 17, 2020

Letter from the Deputy Minister to Parents, Guardians and Staff – March 13, 2020

Letter to Families/Caregivers – March 12, 2020

Letters to Employees – March 12, 2020

Parent/Guardian letter from SD64 and the Ministry of Education – March 02, 2020

Ministry of Health and BC Centre for Disease Control Frequently asked questions for children and students

Grad Rates Improve in the Gulf Islands

Tagged With: giss, graduation
2020/01/17

The Six-Year Completion Rate for BC residents, often referred to as the “grad rate”, increased and approached the BC average in June 2019. The percentage of Gulf Islands School District students graduating in six years from their grade 8 to 12 program jumped from 74.2% for the previous year to 82.7%, the 4th largest increase in the province. The results were confirmed by BC’s Ministry of Education in December 2019.

Focused work by teachers and staff have contributed to this accomplishment,” stated Scott Benwell, Gulf Islands’ Superintendent of Schools. This is one important indicator of the work we do as a public school system to ensure students have equitable and meaningful options for success when they graduate.

Achieving results and improvement like this takes effort from all and it is heartening to see that more of our students walked the stage with dignity, purpose, and options.

While this is a positive gain, we know that our continued work on behalf of students will enable us to soon meet and surpass the provincial grad rate of 88.8%. We owe that to our students to provide opportunities for future success in careers, further education, and employment.”
Scott Benwell, Superintendent of Schools

“At GISS (Gulf Islands Secondary School) our work has focused on supporting individual students to take the steps necessary to complete all of their graduation requirements. This has contributed to our improved grad rates.”
Lyall Ruehlen, Principal

An earlier case study by the district found that participation rates in grade 4 and 7 FSA’s (Foundational Skills Assessments) were also positive predictors of school completion. This year the participation rate of students writing the reading, writing and numeracy assessments increased from 47% to 94%, the largest increase in participation across the province of British Columbia. Having broad and balanced information about what our students are able to know and do further enables school district teachers and staff to be strategic about how students can best be supported.

Learning story: Doug Livingston

Event Post

Tagged With: event photos, temporary use
2019/12/18

GISS Dance Presents: Backin’ It Up
7:30 pm, January 16
at ArtSpring

GISS Dance is a program for youth of the Gulf Islands, and a vehicle for their voice and expression. The performance of “Backin’ It Up” will offer our new works of choreography for the stage. These vibrant, and enthusiastic youth have been working hard in the studio to plan their grooves and moves to enliven our time together. Dance styles will include Lyrical dance, Contemporary dance, Jazz dance, and of course, Hip Hop and Funk.